What Currency Does Delhi Use? Money Guide

Delhi uses the Indian Rupee, written as ₹ or INR. One Rupee is divided into 100 paise, though paise coins are effectively extinct; everything rounds to the nearest Rupee. As of September 2026, US$1 is roughly ₹95.58 and €1 roughly ₹110.82 at mid-market rates.

You'll use a mix of cash and cards in Delhi. Cards work at most restaurants and larger shops, but cash is king for transport, markets, and street food, which is where a lot of your money goes.

Getting Rupees

ATMs

ATMs are everywhere in Delhi: at petrol pumps, in malls, attached to bank branches, and on virtually every main road. The most reliable ATM networks for foreign cards are HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, SBI, and Axis Bank.

Withdrawal limits are typically ₹10,000-20,000 per transaction, with some banks allowing ₹25,000. Your bank's and the ATM's fees apply; check with your home bank before you travel.

Tip: Withdraw from ATMs inside bank branches during banking hours (10 AM - 4 PM). If the machine eats your card or a transaction fails, bank staff can help immediately. Standalone ATMs at night are less ideal.

Airport Exchange

Terminal 3 has multiple currency exchange counters in the arrivals hall, open 24/7. The rates are 2-4% worse than city rates, but for your first ₹5,000-10,000, the convenience is worth it. You need your passport to exchange.

Money Changers in the City

Connaught Place has the highest concentration of authorised money changers. Look for the RBI (Reserve Bank of India) authorisation certificate displayed in the shop.

Paharganj also has many changers, but rates and reliability vary more. Stick to shops with clear RBI authorisation.

Avoid changing money at hotels. Their exchange rates are consistently the worst option, typically 3-5% below market rate.

Using Cards

Visa and Mastercard are accepted at most mid-range to high-end restaurants, hotel chains, brand-name shops, malls, and supermarkets. American Express is accepted far less widely.

Where cards work well:

• Restaurants in Khan Market, Connaught Place, Hauz Khas, and South Delhi
• Hotels at all price levels
• Shopping malls (Select Citywalk, DLF Promenade, Ambience Mall)
• Chain stores and supermarkets
• Monument ticket counters (most accept cards now)

Where you need cash:

• Auto rickshaws and cycle rickshaws
• Street food stalls
• Traditional markets (Chandni Chowk, Sarojini Nagar, Lajpat Nagar)
• Small neighbourhood shops
• Temple donations and offerings
• Public toilets

For more on whether Delhi is expensive and how to budget, check our daily spending guide.

UPI and Digital Payments

India's UPI (Unified Payments Interface) system has transformed how locals pay. Apps like Google Pay, PhonePe, and Paytm are used by everyone from street vendors to luxury hotels; you'll see QR codes at every shop.

For visitors: UPI normally needs an Indian bank account and Indian phone number. Since July 2024, foreign visitors can get a UPI One World prepaid wallet instead, an NPCI scheme run with IDFC First Bank and Transcorp. You sign up with your passport and visa, load it with rupees, and pay by scanning QR codes like a local. If you'd rather not bother, cards and cash cover everything.

Cash Tips

Carry small denominations. Notes come in ₹10, ₹20, ₹50, ₹100, ₹200, and ₹500. Auto drivers and small vendors frequently can't break a ₹500 note. Ask the ATM for a lower withdrawal amount to get smaller notes, or break large notes at bigger shops and supermarkets.

₹2,000 notes were withdrawn from circulation in 2023. They're still legal tender, but shops refuse them and ordinary bank branches no longer exchange them: only the RBI's 19 issue offices or India Post will. If someone offers you one, decline it.

Check your notes. Torn, excessively worn, or heavily stained notes are sometimes rejected by shopkeepers. If an ATM gives you damaged notes, exchange them inside the bank branch.

Don't carry too much cash. ₹3,000-5,000 in your wallet is plenty for a day. Keep the rest in your hotel safe. For budgeting context, see our guide on how much money you need per day in Delhi.

Bargaining with Cash

Markets like Chandni Chowk, Sarojini Nagar, and Janpath are cash-only and prices are negotiable. Having the right denomination makes bargaining easier: if a vendor says ₹800, you can hold up ₹400 in notes and negotiate from there. Paying by card removes this leverage entirely. Read more about bargaining in Delhi markets.

Can I Use US Dollars or Euros in Delhi?

No. Delhi runs entirely on Indian Rupees (₹/INR). No shops, restaurants, or transport accept foreign currency. Exchange your money at the airport, an authorised money changer, or withdraw Rupees from an ATM. As of September 2026, US$1 is roughly ₹95.58 and €1 roughly ₹110.82. Airport exchange rates are slightly worse than city rates but perfectly fine for your first day's spending.

Should I Carry Cash or Use Cards in Delhi?

Both. Credit and debit cards (Visa and Mastercard) work at most mid-range to upscale restaurants, hotel chains, malls, and branded shops. But you'll need cash for auto rickshaws, street food, markets like Chandni Chowk and Sarojini Nagar, small shops, and temple donations. Carry ₹2,000-3,000 in cash daily, in small denominations.

Where Can I Exchange Money in Delhi?

The best options are ATMs (in malls, at bank branches, and on main roads), airport exchange counters (open 24/7 at Terminal 3), and authorised money changers in Connaught Place and Paharganj. Avoid exchanging money at hotels; their rates are typically 3-5% worse.